Portrait: André Balasz for Gentlemans Journal

I was asked to photograph the Hotelier André Balasz for Gentlemans Journal in London at the Chiltern Firehouse. The hotel was an iconic location, very popular with the ‘in-crowd’ with a fabulous bar and beautiful design details throughout – quite like any other hotels I had been too. Although it fitted in well with one of Andre’s other famous hotels; the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.

The Grade II listed building was originally the Marylebone Fire Station, one of several remaining listed fire stations dotted across London. One little detail I had pointed out to me from the buildings old watch tower was the lead flashing on the roof, which was shaped like flames; the lovely little sort of details that the Victorians were happy to indulge in on their public buildings. As we were given a tour of the premises I remember noticing the really strong smell of wood smoke emanating from the kitchens below; it was so strong I even commented on it to the PR with us. The next day an ember from the pizza oven apparently found it’s way into a void between the basement and the ground floor and set the building alight. The irony of a wonderful old fire station itself falling victim to a fire was tragic.